1030 Best Restaurants in Canada

Nothing is left to chance at this five-star restaurant in the Lake Leamy casino. Service is first class, from the choice of complimentary spring or sparkling water to the fresh linen napkin waiting every time you return to your table. Chef Serge Rourre, in the open kitchen, brings a contemporary twist to classic French cuisine. Rack of caribou is served in a crushed-nut-and-juniper-berry crust. Langoustine tails and seared scallops top an oatmeal galette accompanied by squash puree. The five-course Grand Menu Dégustation du Chef (C$90) and eight-course Menu Gastronomique (C$115) can be paired with wines chosen for each dish. Ask for a window table. The view of the lake makes for a romantic and memorable evening.

At this lovely crepe shop, buckwheat-flour crepes are filled with simple ham and cheese or fancier combos like duck confit with onion marmalade, while a wheat crepe with salted caramel and sweet Chantilly cream makes a good dessert. The large shop also has bistro items like cod beignets, charcuterie plates, and cassoulet, and there's a nice selection of ciders and beers.

Next to the cruise terminal in the Old Port, this massive, Parisian-bistro-style restaurant with etched-glass dividers and palm trees has a spectacular view. The outdoor terrace in front overlooks the St. Lawrence River, while the side verrière (glass atrium) looks onto l'Agora amphitheater and the old stone Customs House. The menu, which isn't spectacular by any means but absolutely gets the job done, includes such classics as steak frites, rotisserie chicken, calamari, and duck liver pâté with raisin jam.

This busy, noisy Paris-like bistro featuring artwork by its namesake Canadian painter and patios in front and back has been around for more than 40 years and is a big local literary hangout, with a selection of great coffee, tea, and desserts. Open every day from early morning to late evening, Krieghoff serves specialties that include salmon, quiche, la Toulouse (a big French sausage with sauerkraut), steak with French fries, boudin (pig-blood sausage), and la Bavette (hanger steak).

As a gourmet grocery shop, take-out counter, and French bistro rolled into one, this splendid space was quickly adopted by local foodies. Instead of being dejected by the brunch queues on Saturday and Sunday, visitors should take advantage of that time to browse the restaurant’s inviting boutique for gourmet souvenirs to take home.

At this refreshing alternative to the Old City's ubiquitous white-linen bistros, you can get fast food that's also high quality. Burgers made from grass-fed cattle served on soft artisanal brioche buns make this a prime locale for lunch goers. With long tables, red accents, and paper-towel rolls in place of napkin holders, the interior has a retro touch without feeling overly folksy or forced. Save room for dessert, which includes heavenly dark-chocolate milkshakes, chocolate ganache, or peanut-butter ice-cream sandwiches.

A beloved Québec City institution, Le Cochon Dingue (the crazy pig) offers a lively bistro experience with a touch of whimsy. Known for its generous portions of comfort food—from classics like ribs and steak frites to delectable brunch, for which queues are well deserved—it’s a consistently popular spot for locals and visitors alike, thanks to an unbeatable location by the port and Petit-Champlain.

If Québec City had a dining hall of fame, Le Continental would be there among the best. Since 1956 this historic spot, steps from the Château Frontenac, has been serving solid, traditionally gourmet dishes, such as tableside-prepared orange duckling and filet mignon, which is flambéed in a cognac sauce and then luxuriously covered in a gravy seasoned with mustard and sage. Try the truffled sweetbread ravioli or the foie gras with vegetable confit.

A study in contrasts, Le Filet has a discreet blink-and-you'll-miss-it façade with a glitzy black-and-gold interior and a hot-spot buzz. Though it's been around a while, there is no mixed messaging when it comes to the exacting presentation and superb food and wine. The menu is divided into three courses, or "sets." While the first set consists of shareable cold dishes (such as garnished oysters with toppings like maple crisp, jalapeño, or miso gratin), the main course is dedicated to hot seafood and meat dishes (for instance, squid ink linguine with seafood and fried shallots or gemelli with braised veal cheek, mushrooms, and foie gras). For dessert, expect items like cheesecake with poached pears and cassis sorbet; a maple syrup square with fresh cream and chocolate-coated pecans; or an exotic fruit carpaccio with coconut sorbet, vanilla cream, and kumquat. Wine lovers also appreciate the impressive wine list.

Decadent pastries and excellent coffee are to be had at this authentic French bakery in the heart of downtown. 

Don't expect any frills here, but don't expect any processed food either—this diner and takeout, far removed from the touristy center of town, is the place to taste some authentic and delicious Acadian dishes. Try the fricôt (a hearty chicken stew), poutine rappé (a potato dumpling stuffed with ground pork), fish cakes, or traditional baked beans. All are expertly and freshly cooked to the owner's grandmother's recipes; other options include fried clams, scallops, lobster rolls, fish burgers, and fish-and-chips.

This eclecticly decorated Alice in Wonderland-theme eatery-cum-board games café serves elevated comfort food such as French onion soup, butter chicken pot pie, and lobster quesadillas, which pair perfectly with local craft beers, creative cocktails, and excellent desserts. There's often live music on the patio in the summer.

Regularly lauded on Canadian best-of dining lists, Le Mousso is helmed by chef Antonin Mousseau-Rivard, who dreams up exquisitely plated, northern European–inspired dishes that are as much works of art as they are imaginative combinations of flavor and texture for the taste buds. Using mostly local and seasonal ingredients, the seven-course tasting menu might feature dishes such as borscht décomposé (beet soup), grilled scallops lightly smoked with fir and served on coals with wild plum butter, or tataki Wagyu beef accompanied by cream, New Brunswick caviar, and nasturtium leaves. Dessert might be a fanciful whirl of chocolate with cucumber or squash with honey and rapeseed oil.  The restaurant will attempt to accommodate food allergies and vegetarian diets but reserves the right to refuse a reservation in cases where it would be too difficult to do so. Mousso does not offer vegetarian variations, but a dining "experience" without meat or fish is possible. All dietary restrictions must be mentioned at the time of reservation.

In what is basically a one-street town, this restaurant's reputation for serving outstanding food at affordable prices stands out, and the knowledgeable, personable waitstaff does, too. Though the cuisine is primarily Italian, some Mediterranean, French, and Quebecois influences are also in evidence, backed up by a fairly extensive and reasonably priced wine list. In the warmer seasons, you can eat out on the covered terrace, while the fireplaces inside makes those colder, harsher evenings downright cozy. Lunch is available only in the summer.

This is the quintessential "you can’t judge a book by its cover" kind of place, but get past the boxy and dull exterior and you'll find a cool, retro 1950s diner look, from the black-and-white-checked tile floor to the chrome and red laminate tables and chairs. Soups, including seafood chowders, as well as burgers and hot dogs fit the diner feel. Most fans rave about the fries. Grab a sack and head out to the waterfront for a stroll that feels oh so French Canadian.

This low-lit, warrenlike bistro has hardly changed at all since the 1990s—and the regulars like it that way. The open kitchen turns out reliable French fare like steak tartare and duck confit; desserts include flourless chocolate cake and house-made ice cream. Get a quieter table in one of the inner dining rooms, or belly up to the bar and watch the action.

Despite its magnificent beaux arts interior and its reasonable prices, the National Assembly's restaurant remains one of the best-kept secrets in town. Chef Martin Gagné prepares contemporary cuisine with products from Québec's various regions, such as mini-fondues made with Charlevoix cheese to ravioli made from lobster caught in the Gaspé to pork from the Beauce region, trout from the Magdalen Islands, or candied-duck salad. At just C$37, the three-service tasting menu is an absolute steal.

Step into a magnificent Beaux-Arts interior at Québec's National Assembly's restaurant, a culinary gem that, despite being open for over a century, remains one of the city's best-kept secrets. The chef curates a seasonal menu, preparing contemporary cuisine with sustainably sourced products from Québec's diverse regions. Delight in dishes featuring mini fondues made with Charlevoix cheese, lobster ravioli from Gaspésie, pork from Beauce, trout from the Magdalen Islands, or asparagus from Île d'Orléans. A C$54 prix fixe menu offers exceptional value for the quality, making this an unmissable experience.

This casual Syrian spot is comfortable and homey but still has style, with music, ivy, exposed-stone walls, and a lovely terrace come summer. The menu is perfect for grazing, and excellent sharing options include the mouhamara (pomegranate-and-walnut spread), sabanegh (spinach, coriander, and onion pie), fattouche (a salad with pita chips and mint), and yalandji (vine leaves stuffed with rice, chickpeas, walnuts, and tomatoes). There are Armenian dishes, too, like the salad with cumin and flefle (hot peppers). Delicious kebabs dominate the main courses, with the moderately spiced terbialy a favorite. Le Petit Alep also has an older sibling, Restaurant Alep, at 199 rue Jean-Talon Ouest.

This little restaurant serves authentic French cuisine—the chef is from France—on a well-balanced menu based on organic and natural ingredients. The menu changes with the season, but if you're looking for a classic escargots à la bourguignonne (snails in garlic butter) or local specialties like Magdalen Islands charcuterie or scallops, you won't be disappointed.

"The crazier, the merrier"—that's the motto that greets patrons on the neon sign behind the canary yellow counter of this cheerful Vietnamese pub. Serving up authentic yet creative reinventions of Vietnamese street food, the three third-generation Vietnamese Canadian owners of Le Red Tiger have been wooing Montrealers in this quirky, convivial setting since opening in 2015.

World cuisines influence chefs who are well-versed in French techniques and fond of using local ingredients. Thai cuisine inspires five-spice chicken with cashew nuts, rice noodles, vegetables, and sweet chili sauce; a taste of Italy is clearly evident in the veal flank with mushrooms, truffle oil, and Parmesan risotto. Giant scallops sautéed in garlic cream and sweet vanilla salt feel contemporary and eclectic alongside sweet potatoes and sautéed seasonal vegetables. Classic French crème brûlée is always the right choice for dessert.

What was once a Wesleyan church has become a sanctuary for salads and grilled sandwiches. Ingredients stretch beyond ham and cheese; choose capers, smoked salmon, grilled mango, and hearts of palm. The cheerful dining room plays stained-glass panels off white walls. People-watching is especially fun from the front lawn tables.

Step into one of Québec City's most romantic and treasured restaurants, where local star Chef Jean-Luc Boulay crafts culinary magic. He entices diners with creations like the Foie Gras Experience—a tasting plate featuring five exquisite variations of this French delicacy—alongside an array of elevated dishes sourced from across Québec. The restaurant is also renowned for its robust wine cellar, boasting over 15,000 bottles from around the world, making it one of Canada's largest. Even the likes of Paul McCartney and Sting have dined (and most certainly indulged) here. For an unforgettable journey, opt for the C$155 discovery menu, offering seven surprise courses.

Le Sélect occupies a special place in the heart of Toronto's Parisian cuisine aficionados. The sprawling plush booths, zinc bar, and mosaic flooring create the ideal ambience for buttery escargots with pillowy pain au lait (milk buns), hearty bowls of saffron-tinged bouillabaisse, and an oversized apple tarte tatin for two, drizzled tableside with rich caramel sauce.

Once a classic Toronto diner, this intimate spot from local restaurateur Jen Agg pays homage to its greasy-spoon roots but with a French twist. The frequently evolving menu balances steak frites and Nicoise salads with tuna melts, onion rings, and grilled cheeses. It's also a rare Toronto spot to eat fondue. 

As you'd expect from the name, this compact storefront specializes in noodles, and they're made by hand in the open kitchen, so you can watch. The choices are simple—noodles in soup or in straight-up stir-fries—but you can also order a plate of garlicky pea shoots or a steamer of dumplings to accompany your meal. The restaurant is just a short stroll from English Bay.

If you shy away from Thai food because of its reputation for spicy hotness, do not hesitate to try this stylish restaurant that caters to all tastes and will prepare your pad thai to match your preference for heat, or lack thereof. Thai stir-fries, noodle dishes, and curries, many featuring ginger and coconut, share the menu with both mild and fiery Indian dishes, and are enjoyed indoors or on the patio.

With an eclectic assortment of knickknacks on every brightly painted wall, this fun, fast-food taco place grabs your attention as soon as you walk through the door. Here you can also play a game of mini-golf, indulge your sweet tooth with some house-made gelato, or order a bag of movie theater–style popcorn from the popcorn machine.

Alexandra and Axel Leonhard have gone from humble beginnings selling homemade bread at a local farmers' market to running a full-fledged café where food is made from scratch without additives, preservatives, or artificial flavorings. The room is bright and cheerful, and the devoted clientele keeps coming back for breakfast, casseroles, hearty gluten-free soups, sandwiches, and delicious desserts. Organic teas and freshly roasted coffee are served as well. Wait times for a seat are not usually an issue—but you can always grab something to go.